Page 73 of Follow Me Down

His gaze swings in my direction when he hears the door creak behind him, giving me a stiff nod before facing forward again.

“Hey.” I step up next to him.

“Mornin’, puppet,” he grumbles, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

“You’re smoking outside.”

“Ellen doesn’t like it when I smoke in the house when she’s here. Says it stinks.”

“Well, she’s not wrong.” I lean forward, pressing my forearms against the railing.

It’s strange, normally I feel completely at ease with Link in a way I never have with anyone else. But right now I feel knotted up inside, like I’m not sure what to say or do.

On one hand, I want him to know what I heard. On the other, I want to pretend like it never happened.

It’s none of my business, I know that. But this is Link and Ellen. Titus’ best friend and sister.

“Can I ask you something?” I turn my head toward Link, waiting until his eyes meet mine before continuing, “Does Titus know?”

“You’re going to have to be more specific than that.” He pushes upright and I do the same.

“About you and Ellen. Does Titus know?”

I don’t miss the way his face pales or how his demeanor instantly shifts.

“I don’t know what you think you know, puppet,” he stammers.

“I overheard you two in the bathroom.” I don’t need to explain more, his expression says it all.

“It’s not what it sounded like.”

“What it sounded like is that you and Ellen were together when you were teenagers, and that she spent the last two nights in your bed. I’m just curious if Titus has any idea about any of it.”

“Fallon.” He blows out a puff of air.

“I’m not going to tell him. But I think maybe you should. It’s not fair to keep something like that from him.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s over. Hell, it’s been over for a very long time.”

“It’s really none of my business, Link. But it didn’t sound like it was over to me.” I place my hand on his forearm. “I obviously don’t know anything about your history with her, and I’m not trying to pry into your business, but if you ever wanna talk, I’m a pretty good listener.”

“And Titus?”

“What you do about that is on you. Our friendship is separate from whatever he and I are doing. Do I think he deserves to know? I do. Am I going to force your hand to tell him? No. What I know stays with me.”

“You really are one of a kind, puppet.” He smiles down at me, the tension in his shoulders relaxing a bit.

“Hey, guys.” Both our gazes shoot toward the steps when Titus suddenly appears.

“Hey.” I smile, pulling my hand away from Link’s arm.

“Everything okay?” He looks between the two of us.

“Yep.” I nod. “I was trying to convince Link to make me some breakfast.”

I instantly feel guilty for the lie.

“Well, lucky for you, Ellen and I are going to make breakfast.” He holds the door open, waiting for me to head inside before following, Link directly behind us.

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